Solar eclipse 2023 is happening this month! A rare type of solar eclipse will happen on Saturday, October 14. This natural phenomenon occurs every year when the moon is at its furthest distance from the Earth, ending up not quietly covering up the sun and showing a visible ring of fire around it. So, know how to see this immersion and when it will be held worldwide.
Solar Eclipse 2023: How Does it Happen?
A solar eclipse happens when the moon appears smaller than the sun. With the difference in size, the moon can’t entirely block the sun, which forms a beautiful ring of fire around it. This happens when the new moon is between the Earth and the sun, casting its shadow on the surface of the Globe.
However, the moon’s ability to completely cover the sun depends on its distance from the Earth. The moon’s slightly elliptical orbit around the Earth can go the farthest (apogee) and closest (perigee) to the planet at two points each month. At these times, it can appear smaller and bigger than usual in the sky.
An annular solar eclipse — also known as a "ring of fire" eclipse — will darken skies above a narrow swath of the country stretching from the coast of Oregon to the Texas Gulf Coast on Oct. 14, according to NASA. https://t.co/47c18cPEnY
— Axios (@axios) October 8, 2023
So, in the upcoming solar eclipse 2023, the new moon will appear smaller this time and can only cover 91% of the sun’s disk. Of course, this one is a must-see.
How to see Solar Eclipse 2023?
The public can see solar eclipse 2023 in different ways, but it’s strongly advised not to look at the sun directly as it can permanently damage the eyes. Wearing sunglasses may not work either, as it doesn’t offer the proper protection for the eye. If you want to wear a pair of them, there are special protective eclipse glasses you can avail to watch the eclipse directly.
You can also create a pin-hole projector to view it without directly looking at the sun. All you need is a cardboard box, a white sheet of paper, tape, scissors, and aluminum foil. Tape the white paper inside the box, leave an opening on the other side, tape the aluminum foil on the other end of the opening, pin a hole, and hold it up against the sun. The light will shine through the hole in the aluminum foil, and the crescent sun will project onto the white sheet of paper taped inside the box.
https://twitter.com/Bitcoin_Gypsy/status/1710060522723328440
From there, you can see the sun’s shape through the paper and watch it change when the moon passes in front of the sun. Another option is to use a safe handheld solar viewer, which is a thousand times darker to protect your eyes.
Never use eclipse glasses or handheld viewers with cameras, binoculars, or telescopes. These things need different types of solar filters.
Solar Eclipse 2023: Worldwide Time
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has already released the interactive map where astronomy enthusiasts can see the solar eclipse 2023. According to NASA, this event will be visible across the eight U.S. states, from Oregon to Texas. North America, Central America, and most of South America will witness this year’s solar eclipse, which will last for five minutes and 17 seconds.
It will stretch from Oregon to northern California, northeast Nevada, central Utah, northeast Arizona, southwest Colorado, central New Mexico, and southern Texas. It will then move across the Gulf of Mexico and over Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Brazil.
This map illustrates the paths of the Moon’s shadow across the U.S. during two upcoming solar eclipses.
On October 14, 2023, an annular solar eclipse will cross North, Central, and South America creating a path of annularity. An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes… pic.twitter.com/MiFQnSqZP9
— James Spann (@spann) October 3, 2023
For the exact times, you can check the list below:
- Oregon Dunes, Oregon: 9:15 a.m. PDT
- Crater Lake National Park, Oregon: 9:17 a.m. PDT
- Lava Beds National Monument, California: 9:19 a.m. PDT
- Great Basin National Park, Nevada: 9:24 a.m. PDT
- Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah: 10:27 a.m. MDT
- Capitol Reef National Park, Utah: 10:27 a.m. MDT
- Canyonlands National Park, Utah: 10:29 a.m. MDT
- Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah: 10:29 a.m. MDT
- Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado: 10:31 a.m. MDT
- Chaco Culture National Park, New Mexico: 10:32 a.m. MDT
- Albuquerque, New Mexico: 10:34 a.m. MDT
- San Antonio: 11:52 a.m. CDT
- Corpus Christi, Texas: 11:55 a.m. CDT
- Padre Island National Seashore, Texas: 11:56 a.m. CDT
- Edzná Maya archaeological site, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico: 11:23 a.m. CST
- New York: 1:22 p.m. EDT
- Los Angeles: 9:24 a.m. PDT
- Chicago: 11:58 a.m. CDT
- Houston: 11:58 a.m. CDT
- Phoenix: 9:31 a.m. MST
- Philadelphia: 1:21 p.m. EDT
- San Antonio: 11:52 a.m. CDT
- San Diego: 9:26 PDT
- Dallas: 11:52 a.m. CDT
- San Jose, California: 9:20 a.m. PDT
Is Solar Eclipse 2023 a Bad Omen?
Despite being a natural phenomenon, solar eclipse is surrounded by different beliefs, myths, and superstitions. It’s still considered a bad omen in some cultures, and many still fear it will bring deaths, disasters, and destruction.
1/2 In less than a week, an annular solar eclipse ("ring of fire" eclipse) will be visible from parts of the western United States… (cont'd) https://t.co/BvlpDmOg5l
— Dan Falk (@danfalk) October 8, 2023
Despite the advancement of technology and modernity today, it’s a surprise that things like this still exist. There’s a scientific explanation for why the solar eclipse is happening, but there’s no basis for the myths surrounding this special event. Scientists and astronomers have already debunked these claims. If there’s one bad thing about solar eclipse, it’s not witnessing its natural beauty.
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